At the northern end of the Organ Pipes Peaks on a granite outcrops forming low hills at the entrance of the Zanuck Basin; approximately 150m above the glacier level
Altitude:
1300 m
Aspect:
N
Slope:
7 °
Location Data
Observer
IBC
GGC
GPS
No
Latitude Longitude DMS
86° 02' S 150° 47' W
86° 12' S 150° 47' W
Latitude Longitude DD
-86.033 -150.783
-86.200 -150.783
Latitude longitude precision DD
0.008 0.008
0.008 0.008
Locality
Scott Glacier region, southern Trans-antarctic Mountains, on the east side of the Robert Scott Glacier
Survey
Nilsen Plateau
Climate
Soil climate zone:
Central Mountain
Estimated mean annual temperature:
-30
°C
Frozen ground depth:
20 > cm
Frozen type:
Frozen comment:
>20cm
Geology
Geological setting:
The Organ Pipes form a ridge of spectacular peaks from granite intrusives; glacial retreat has left a small amount of till
Patterned ground:
Nil
Surface weathering or surface features:
On lower slopes at the edge of the ice, the rocks are fresh and unweathered but at higher elevation there is distinct signs of surface weathering;
Soil
Soil parent material:
Fragmented granitic detritus accumulated between rock outcrops with some fragments of dolerite
Patchy snow cover is present; the soil surface is slightly crusty suggesting some occasional soil moistening
Biological activity:
Nil observed
Profile Description
Horizon
Depth
Description
259d
salts encrusting some surface stones and stones within the soil profile
259a
-2
–
0
cm
surface granular pebble and cobble gravel; weakly but distinctly stained; rock particles subangular and subrounded
259b
0
–
4
cm
pale olive (5Y 6/3) sandy pebble gravel; loose to weakly cohesive; salts beneath some surface stones; weakly developed vesicular structure; rock particles angular to subangular and unstained to very weakly stained; indistinct boundary,
259c
4
–
20
cm
light grey (5Y 7/2) sandy pebble gravel; loose; rock particles angular and unstained;